Tuesday Evening Quarterback: Preseason Week 2

This year, I’m going to be taking a second look at the Rams game on Tuesday evening and recording my thoughts. Today I’m watching the Rams take on the Titans in week 2 of the preseason. All the fun is after the jump.

– The Rams long touchdown pass on the first play of the game came out of the 2 tight end/ 2 wide receiver/ 1 running back set. We will be seeing this formation a lot this season, especially with the play-action thrown in.

– That play design is a Josh McDaniels special in which two routes challenge a single player, in this case a safety and make him make a decision either way. Then, Bradford will pull the trigger on whichever receiver he does not follow.

– Rams defense (just like last year) will have trouble when the blitz does not make it to the quarterback. This type of high-risk, high-reward defense is exactly what the Rams will be running all season. It will bring some great plays for the defense, but the key will be to limit the big plays by the offense.

– That aggression also makes the Rams susceptible to cut back runs. However, improvement from the outside linebackers will help that. Bryan Kehl and Na’il Diggs have already been replaced as starters since the game has ended. The Rams defense preaches aggression, but keeping assignments is equally as important in the scheme.

– Justin Bannan will really help the Rams run defense. He’s stout.

– Sam Bradford’s interception really wasn’t his fault. A great pass that took a slight deflection and then through Mike Sims-Walker’s hands and the ball took a few random bounces to a Titans player. MSW should have had that one regardless.

– Cortland Finnegan is annoying.

– The Rams have invested in the offensive line and it is easy to see how important the line is for the Rams this season. When the line gives Sam Bradford time, he can move though his receivers and find one. The Rams offense struggled when their offensive line struggled.

– Darian Stewart and Na’il Diggs BOTH lost contain on the big Jamie Harper run. Neither should be starting when the season begins against Philadelphia.

– Did Orlando Pace really just say that the Rams offensive line needs to “nut up”?

– Mardy Gilyard understands that another path to the roster is to be willing to play gunner all out on special teams. Call it the Dom Curry corollary.

– Al Harris’s hair is out of control.

– With the new Rams offense spreading the field more than last season, Sam Bradford will have to get better at diagnosing the free rusher and getting the ball out quickly.

– Jason Smith, Harvey Dahl and Cadillac Williams all missed blocks on the play in which Sam Bradford got (illegally) hit low by a Titans pass rusher.